A journalist shot dead in Slovakia was working on a story about the activities of Italian mafia in his country and their links to people close to Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Italian police have arrested the fugitive boss of a powerful 'Ndrangheta clan who ran illegal operations from the southern Calabria region north to Lombardy.

A bombing today in southern Italy damaged the apartment house of a magistrate investigating the 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate.

Thousands of Italian police took part in a huge operation against a powerful crime syndicate today, arresting 300 people including top bosses and seizing millions in property.

Arrest warrants for more than 50 people were issued today in a Mafia sweep across Italy targeting drug trafficking and extortion rackets, news reports said.